the united states tennis association said she needed to slim down and get in better shape. >> i didn't get a definite answer on why they didn't want me to play. they just told me that they felt as though i should work on my fitness more. >> reporter: taylor townsend and her mother sheila say the association refused to cover her expenses to the u.s. open because they felt she needed to stay home and up her fitness level. >> i think it was more conditioning more so, you know, than a specific number for my weight. >> reporter: so she paid her own way to the tournament where she made it to the quarterfinals in singles and won the finals. >> the reality is there are a lot of different shapes and sizes in tennis, and if you look at lindsay davenport, if you look at serena williams, those are two muscular, strong, terrific athletes who achieved greatness. >> but patrick mcenroe head of usta players' development, tells a abc the open was never off limits to taylor. they simply suggested she take a pass after she struggled with her game earlier this summer. no one tournament is bigger than a pl